BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of July 31, 2007

 

The Board met from 9:40 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop to give updates on attendance at various meetings, with no action taken.

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Mary Repar advised of concerns with the Auditor.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to acknowledge receipt of a letter from Bob Talent regarding the need for fire danger signage throughout the County.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

1.      Minutes for week of July 24, 2007.

2.      Set public hearing for 1:30 PM Tuesday, September 4, 2007 to consider an application from Tim and Alice Meyers for a change of classification to Timber Land for Current Use Assessment for tax parcel 04-75-36-0-0-1403-00, 19 acres, located at 252 Louther Road.

3.      Authorize purchase of digital scanner/plotter for use by Assessor and Auditor.

4.      Agreement with Dept of Social and Health Services, Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse to provide funding for chemical dependency prevention, intervention, treatment and ancillary services.

5.      Employer Adoption Agreement with HRA VEBA for voluntary employees’ beneficiary medical expense plan for public employees.

6.      Agreement with Windermere/Glen Taylor Real Estate to market Rock Cove property.

7.      Accept conceptual design for Rock Creek Community Services Building.

8.      Contract with Bell Design Company for survey/engineering services associated with Rock Creek Community Services Building.

9.      Approve surplus of recommended equipment list and purchase price for county departments and junior taxing districts, and authorize ER&R Manager to initiate a contract with Zakula Beal Auctioneer to sell the remaining surplus equipment at their public auction.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve Resolution 2007-29 dissolving the Wind River Public Development Authority.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to authorize the purchase of a Double Cascadian with Chase Toilet for the Salmon Falls Park and Ride Project.

 

Larry Douglass, Public Works Director reported on the Rock Creek Slide/timber removal project, private road standards, Engineering projects, County Road projects, ER&R, Solid Waste, and Building Department.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to acknowledge receipt of a letter of retirement from Barbara Klinger, effective August 31, 2007.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to sign a Landowner Willingness Form authorizing the Lower Columbia Fish Enhancement Group to seek funding for implementation of Upper Washougal River Restoration Phase II Project which would include County property at Camp Wa-Ri-Ki.

 

John Hardham of Columbia River Gorge Technology Alliance gave a presentation on technology and economic growth in the Columbia River Gorge.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:20 a.m. Tuesday, July 31, 2007 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

A public hearing was held to consider Ordinance 2007-07 amending Skamania County Code Chapter 6.04 Dog Control by adding new sections for Definitions, Nuisance Dog, Police Dogs and amending the Penalty clause.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to make the following changes to the proposed Ordinance:

1.      Insert the following language after paragraph two in Section 6.04.070 Nuisance Dog, which was inadvertently omitted from the original revisions:

It shall be incumbent upon the reporting person to complete and submit an animal nuisance complaint form indicating dates and times when the nuisance occurred.  The nuisance complaint form shall be used as the basis for contact by the enforcement authority.

2.      Delete Section 6.04.140 Impoundment – Contracted services.

3.      Change the term “dog-catcher” to “animal control officer” anywhere it appeared in Skamania County Code Chapter 6.04 Dog Control.

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to acknowledge receipt of letters from Roger and Lori James, Kevin Gabriel, Stephania Potter and family, and Grant Geisler and Joan Robertson-Geisler.  Sheriff Dave Brown provided background information resulting from public meetings and advised of the need to address citizen complaints of barking dogs and the lack of enforcement authority.  Comments from the public included both support for and opposition of the ordinance.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to continue the hearing to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 7, 2007 to allow additional public input.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, 2007 and reconvened at 2:40 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

A public hearing was held to consider a request from Timothy Ball for a variance to Skamania County Code 12.03.040(B)(1) Private Road Requirements for Two Rivers Road (private), located off of Cooper Avenue, to allow a driving surface of less than the 20-foot surface dimension requirement.  Mark Mazeski, Senior Planner gave a staff report.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to acknowledge receipt of a letter from Keith and Cora Fredrickson supporting the variance request.  Timothy Ball advised of the expense to meet the road width requirements, advised of existing houses that use Two Rivers Road for access, and submitted petitions from three property owners supporting the variance.  Discussion included the number of lots accessed by Two Rivers Road, the cost to upgrade the road, and the potential removal of trees to widen the road.  The hearing was closed to public comment.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve the variance with the condition that if access to Lot 1 changes to Two Rivers Road and/or if there is a change in the ownership of Lots 2 or 3, Two Rivers Road must be brought up to current private road standards to access that lot.

The meeting recessed at 3:35 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, 2007 and reconvened at 5:00 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a special meeting, joint with the City of Stevenson Council, regarding Piper Road Slide at City Hall, 7121 East Loop Road in Stevenson.  Mark Yinger, of Mark Yinger Associates, a groundwater and environmental consultant reported on subsurface investigations conducted in the vicinity of the active Piper Road landslide.  Discussion included the geologic setting, soil types, drilling and boring results, soil saturation, dewatering, and management of surface water.  Mr. Yinger recommended drilling two test wells located on Chesser Road and Loop Road to evaluate the potential for dewatering the saturated zones as a method to reduce or stop landslide movement and expansion.  Larry Douglass, Skamania County Public Works Director advised that the cost for two test wells would be approximately $15,000 for both.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to authorize the drilling of two test wells on Chesser Road and Loop Road.  Andrew Jansky, of Flowing Solutions reported on the design for placement of soldier piles in Rock Creek, north of the Rock Creek Bridge, to stop large debris from the slide before it reaches the Rock Creek Bridge and lower area of Rock Creek, which would provide fish enhancement and as well as protection for the bridge.  He also reported on the need to maintain conveyance below the bridge to reduce sediment and restore proper functions to Rock Creek.  Discussion included the number of down trees, permitting, mitigation, and dredging.  Both the Board and Council were in agreement to schedule another joint meeting after data on the two test wells becomes available.

 

The meeting recessed at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, 2007 and reconvened at 9:25 a.m. Wednesday, August 1, 2007, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Public Works to discuss Rock Creek Slide, project reviews, Stevenson Well, and proposed private road ordinance, with no action taken.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 10:00 a.m. until 10:35 a.m., with no action taken.

 

Nancy Ryke, Mt. Adams District Ranger gave updates on Forest Service activities.  Discussion included Resource Advisory Committee, Trout Creek recreation restoration, Forest Service visitor centers, update on NEON as a proposed core site at Wind River, Wind River Site water system, timber sales, personnel, stewardship sales, and roads.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:20 a.m. Wednesday, August 1, 2007 and reconvened at 1:20 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 1:20 p.m. until 2:05 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:05 p.m. Wednesday, August 1, 2007 and reconvened at 2:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to authorize ER&R to purchase a replacement vehicle for the Assessor.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with the Administrative Services Director to discuss a request from the Port of Skamania County for .09 sales and use tax funds, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:50 p.m. Wednesday, August 1, 2007 and reconvened at 9:40 a.m. Thursday, August 2, 2007, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve vouchers for the period ending August 2, 2007 in the total amount of $473,557.65.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve a voucher to Servpro in the total amount of $1,063.58.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss 2008 Title III applications, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:55 a.m. Thursday, August 2, 2007 and reconvened at 2:40 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss allocations of Federal Forest Funds for Title II and III for 2008, with no action taken.

 

The meeting adjourned at 2:50 p.m. Thursday, August 2, 2007.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON